Department of Radiology, Duke University, Durham, NC 27157, USA.
Int J Radiat Biol. 2011 Oct;87(10):1001-10. doi: 10.3109/09553002.2011.556178.
In response to the increased risk of radiological terrorist attack, a network of Centers for Medical Countermeasures against Radiation (CMCR) has been established in the United States, focusing on evaluating animal model responses to uniform, relatively homogenous whole- or partial-body radiation exposures at relatively high dose rates. The success of such studies is dependent not only on robust animal models but on accurate and reproducible dosimetry within and across CMCR. To address this issue, the Education and Training Core of the Duke University School of Medicine CMCR organised a one-day workshop on small animal dosimetry. Topics included accuracy in animal dosimetry accuracy, characteristics and differences of cesium-137 and X-ray irradiators, methods for dose measurement, and design of experimental irradiation geometries for uniform dose distributions. This paper summarises the information presented and discussed.
Without ensuring accurate and reproducible dosimetry the development and assessment of the efficacy of putative countermeasures will not prove successful. Radiation physics support is needed, but is often the weakest link in the small animal dosimetry chain. We recommend: (i) A user training program for new irradiator users, (ii) subsequent training updates, and (iii) the establishment of a national small animal dosimetry center for all CMCR members.
针对放射性恐怖袭击风险增加的情况，美国建立了一个医学应对辐射中心网络（CMCR），专注于评估动物模型对均匀、相对同质的全身或部分身体辐射暴露在相对高剂量率下的反应。此类研究的成功不仅取决于强大的动物模型，还取决于 CMCR 内部和之间的准确和可重复的剂量测量。为了解决这个问题，杜克大学医学院 CMCR 的教育和培训核心组织了为期一天的小型动物剂量学研讨会。主题包括动物剂量学准确性、铯-137 和 X 射线辐照器的特性和差异、剂量测量方法以及均匀剂量分布的实验照射几何设计。本文总结了所呈现和讨论的信息。
如果不能确保准确和可重复的剂量测量，那么潜在对策的开发和评估将不会成功。需要辐射物理支持，但这通常是小型动物剂量学链中最薄弱的环节。我们建议：（i）为新辐照器使用者提供用户培训计划，（ii）后续培训更新，以及（iii）为所有 CMCR 成员建立国家小型动物剂量学中心。
